Author Topic: Kentucky's finest? My "help me" thread...  (Read 7491 times)

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Offline BestSellingAuthor

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Kentucky's finest? My "help me" thread...
« on: December 15, 2012, 11:28:17 AM »
Well, MY bike is certainly not Kentucky's finest nor MY "work" on it. :)). Here is my introduction,  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=115884.0

I am soon to get a manual, but I can only imagine from what I have read that this forum is a greater source of information. As stated in my introduction I am the quintessential "green pea" or "noob" as all the cool kids say. Likewise, until last summer I have never picked up a power tool, but I built this. (85% single handedly) Maybe the photos show at end of post. Dunno. I only offer that to show there is hope yet! Maybe? :o

Current pics too large. Will follow up in a second post. Sorry. Will investigate and correct for future posts.



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« Last Edit: February 21, 2013, 12:56:20 PM by BestSellingAuthor »

Offline BestSellingAuthor

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2012, 11:36:58 AM »
Here is seller's pic of my bike. Below?

My introduction has my initial thoughts and plans, so I won't bore ya with that unless ya want me to. One of the many parts the bike came with was a set of much lower bars. For aesthetic purposes as well as probable riding style I first wanted to switch them out. I figured this would be a good start for my experience level.

My uncle advised me to simply cut the internal wiring just before the controls. I did. Then I learned what people really think about rebuilding those controls. Uh...maybe not the best place to start. No matter. What's done is done and this entire project will be a wonderful? learning experience.

So I have the bars cleaned and loose. Not being afraid of what I don't know or asking questions, is there a good way to get the damn wiring outta the bars?!? They don't wanna move much, if any.

Thanks in advance. Also know that this "build" (more like a..."help, please!" thread) thread will most likely be very slow going. Stay at home dad. Wife works crazy hours. I only get a few minutes/day (seriously...) to mess with it.

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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2012, 11:43:27 AM »
really nice play set, nice bike too...bust out that Bourbon and lets...slide? ;D
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline BestSellingAuthor

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Re: Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2012, 12:16:50 PM »
really nice play set, nice bike too...bust out that Bourbon and lets...slide? ;D

Wouldn't be the first time!

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Offline BobbyR

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #4 on: December 15, 2012, 01:26:36 PM »
The playset look great, the bike can be a looker if you work at it. Yes, Woodford is excellent. Makers Mark is a fine Whiskey also.
You can download a manual from here. Use the search feature when you can, it has good stuff in it.
Dedicated to Sgt. Howard Bruckner 1950 - 1969. KIA LONG KHANH.

But we were boys, and boys will be boys, and so they will. To us, everything was dangerous, but what of that? Had we not been made to live forever?

Offline Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #5 on: December 15, 2012, 01:47:17 PM »
Bobby's right but I really like my Bookers on ice even if I have Makers bottles with Blue wax and White wax  ;)
As of today 3/13/2012 my original owner 75 CB750F has made it through 3 wives, er EX-wives. Free at last.  ;-)

Offline BestSellingAuthor

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2012, 01:50:58 PM »
@Bobby...thanks on the playset. It was fun. With time, I hope to get the bike "right", whatever it may be. I will have a look for the manuals, when I get to a computer. I normally use my phone, out of ease, and the search function doesn't work in Tapatalk. ?

@Jerry. Cats fan? UK basketball is the only sport I watch. Poor kids need some experience this year!

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Offline Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2012, 02:10:30 PM »
Oh yeah! Born Blue in Paducah. UK class of 81. Even lived in Loserville for 18 years. Camp Cal will get them willing  ;D How about them Butler Bulldogs!

Speaking of Loserville, if you need parts see Bob (owner) of Magnum Cycles on Dixie and tell him Drug Man sent you.  ;)
As of today 3/13/2012 my original owner 75 CB750F has made it through 3 wives, er EX-wives. Free at last.  ;-)

Offline luap

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #8 on: December 15, 2012, 08:03:32 PM »
That playground is nice. If you can put that together the bike will be easy. Bike doesnt look like it needs a whole lot done to it
75-550 ffsc sold, 78-550 diamonte sold, 125s grasshopper sold, 76-550 puma sold, 78-550 tracker sold, 74-550 verde diablo Sold, 74-550 Noemani finished trying to sell. 72 500 hartail in the works
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Offline BestSellingAuthor

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #9 on: December 16, 2012, 03:45:45 AM »
@Jerry...thanks for the info!  I will definitely remember that!

@luap...thanks for the vote of confidence! I need it. At present I don't plan on doing much to it. Change the bars and pipes. Paint new side covers. Deal with the bashing. Tune. Ride.

I have had zero time to do anything. Wiring still stuck in bars. Any suggestions? Tips/tricks? I warned that this thread would be painstakingly slow and remedial. :-[

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Offline Roach Carver

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #10 on: December 16, 2012, 06:34:33 AM »
Warm the bars up a little with a hair dryer or cautiously with a heat gun. I also put wd40 inside sometimes. Push on the wires, GENTLY pull on the switch. Once you have room pull on the wires.

Offline BestSellingAuthor

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #11 on: December 16, 2012, 07:59:07 AM »
@roach...thanks!  When time permits I will give it a shot and report back. However, I didn't start in the headlight bucket as someone suggested. Based on my uncle's advice, I cut the wires just inside the L/R controls. I s'pose I get to learn about rebuilding the controls now. I did find an incredibly detailed post about the right hand control, on this forum.

I did grab some blue nitrile gloves today. Baby steps.

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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #12 on: December 16, 2012, 09:09:38 AM »
you are probably just gonna have to solder new wires to your switches now anyway, not much point in pulling the wire from those bars, either that or it might be time saved to just get new switches.  The rh switch will be hard to find in good condition...and probably expensive.
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline BestSellingAuthor

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #13 on: December 16, 2012, 09:50:17 AM »
@Sean...thanks. I plan to TRY to rebuild and solder the wires. The only real saving grace is the detailed account of the RH control that I found and that the clipped end is still attached to help me make the correct connections. I plan on keeping an eye out and if cheap enough, just buy a "new to me" assembly with wires. Thanks again!

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Offline rb550four

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #14 on: December 16, 2012, 05:17:47 PM »
Welcome ,and that machine seems to be in very good condition , shouldn't be too hard to get it how you want it. There are lotsa "uncles" here, that can offer much knowledge. I see the  first lesson has been  NO WIRE CUTTING, always better to learn before it happens. And the second, get a manual , has been put into play, a  very good place to start. Pictures are everything, and we all like regular updates on your progress, so no need to be bashful, post.
A few Honda 500's, a few Honda 550's, a few Honda 650's, '72 cb 450, a couple 500/550/650 hybrids, and 2001 750. 
  550 Snowbike -Somebody had to do it.
  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,101678.0.html             
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,137317.msg1550907.html#msg1550907

Offline BestSellingAuthor

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #15 on: December 16, 2012, 05:24:51 PM »
@rb...thanks for the post!  My uncle thought I would be better off doing what he suggested, rather than getting in the headlight bucket. Either way it is all new to me. The upside is I didn't ruin anything, I don't think. The downside is that I must now connect it all back to the controls. People seem to rebuild them often. Just daunting to me. I have not had time to work on wire removal but will post pics when any progress is made. Thanks so much for the welcome!

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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #16 on: December 16, 2012, 05:28:40 PM »
Most of the stuff in the controls isn't too bad...with one exception, if your starter button ain't broke, don't fix it!
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline BestSellingAuthor

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #17 on: December 16, 2012, 05:33:16 PM »
@Sean...no worries. I didn't mean to and don't wish to create unnecessary work for myself.

A pic, as requested. Nothing to see here, move along. ;D

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Offline Roach Carver

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #18 on: December 16, 2012, 05:51:01 PM »
Dont be afraid of whats in the bucket. Its all color coded. Even a moron like me can do it.

Offline Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #19 on: December 16, 2012, 11:27:23 PM »
Those are not HONDA bars so the wires are not stock either. They're probably going to have splices somewhere anyway. You could always take a hack saw, etc to the bars cause I KNOW you ain't plannin on puttin them thangs back on!
« Last Edit: December 16, 2012, 11:29:25 PM by Jerry Rxman Griffin »
As of today 3/13/2012 my original owner 75 CB750F has made it through 3 wives, er EX-wives. Free at last.  ;-)

Offline BestSellingAuthor

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #20 on: December 17, 2012, 03:13:09 AM »
@DrugMan...HA! Hell no those bars won't be back on this bike. It crossed my mind to cut into them. Today I plan on investigating how to get into the headlight and the possibility of cutting into the bars. Again, I will be lucky if I get 10 minutes to work on it. Thanks!

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Offline BestSellingAuthor

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #21 on: December 17, 2012, 08:24:54 AM »
Welp...I opened up the headlamp. Remind me to thank my uncle. Despite the mess inside it, it seems a lot easier to deal with than the control rebuild he set up for me. I may have someone solder it all back for me. Takers? Cost? The ends are still attached, so no guesswork there. I plan on getting some small round, white stickers in order to continue. The kid's smiley stickers only went so far. I need to provide myself mire information than those allow.

Okay, so...do I get the votes for most sloth-like and rudimentary thread ever?:-[

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Offline BestSellingAuthor

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #22 on: December 17, 2012, 08:31:15 AM »


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Offline BestSellingAuthor

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #23 on: December 17, 2012, 10:03:33 AM »
Because I can spend more time here than in the garage, I thought I might ask. Is there anything under the plate that the bulk of wires goes under before reaching the other of the housing and the connectors?  I just wanna be ready for the lil springs, if any. That bulk of wire run under there should also allow me to solder my wire back, rather than going all the way into the connections in the switch?  Correct? It sure would make thing simpler! :o

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Offline Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er

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Re: Kentucky's finest? Woodford Reserve and a 1975 CB550.
« Reply #24 on: December 17, 2012, 10:26:43 AM »
Don't think I'd worry about that plate! I think you really need to #$%* slap that uncle and keep him outta yer fukn garage. Ask us, not him. I'd say you are hosed on the control with the cut where it is. You're not going to be able to make that work. Well, maybe at best but not likely.WTF, is he a U of L fan?! Just start looking for a new control. Bob will probably be having a Christmas party Friday. Take a 6 pack of Bud Light to him around noon along with the control and see if he can dig one out. Seriously! He has 2 old houses full of #$%*! I'll probably try to call if I don't forget to wish him Merry Christmas. He'll probably be open Sat AM. If I can throw in a plug for you let me know. ps Those plates  are just to hold things in place but do be careful just in case.
As of today 3/13/2012 my original owner 75 CB750F has made it through 3 wives, er EX-wives. Free at last.  ;-)